Current path diagnosis with the aid of an electronic fuse

Abstract

A method for monitoring a circuit, in particular in order to make possible a predictive maintenance. At least one parameter is measured at least at one measurement position. The at least at one measurement position is located on or in the circuit. The at least one parameter is acquired. At least one actual value is calculated based on the at least one parameter. A deviation of the at least one actual value is determined from a target value. An analysis of the deviation is performed. An analysis result is output based on the analysis.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for monitoring a circuit to provide a predictive maintenance, the method comprising:
 measuring at least one parameter at least at one measurement position, the at least at one measurement position being on or in the circuit;   acquiring the at least one parameter;   calculating at least one actual value based on the at least one parameter;   determining a deviation of the at least one actual value from a target value;   analyzing the deviation; and   outputting an analysis result based on the analysis.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the circuit has at least one electronic tripping unit and/or at least one control unit, wherein the at least one parameter comprises:
 a voltage and/or a current that characterizes at least one current path of the electronic tripping unit;   a voltage and/or a current of the at least one control unit at an output of the control unit; and/or   a temperature at least at one measurement position of the circuit at an input and/or output of the electronic tripping unit.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one actual value has an actual resistance and the target value has a target resistance, and/or wherein the analysis of the deviation is carried out based on the deviation and/or on a measurement tolerance or a variable measurement tolerance. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a learning method including at least one of the following steps is carried out before the measuring or upon startup:
 measuring the at least one parameter at the at least one measurement position, the at least at one measurement position being located on or in the circuit;   acquiring the at least one parameter;   calculating at least one actual value based on the at least one parameter; and/or   defining the target value and/or a measurement tolerance based on the actual value.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the learning method includes an applying and/or subsequent measuring of at least one of the following applied parameters:
 a voltage and/or a current that characterizes at least one current path of the electronic tripping unit;   a voltage and/or a current of the at least one control unit at an output of the control unit; or   a temperature at at least at one measurement position of the circuit at the input and/or output of the electronic tripping unit,   wherein at least one or a plurality of applied parameters are applied in and/or to the circuit, and   wherein a measuring is carried out subsequently and/or essentially at the same time in order to ascertain a plurality of actual values and to obtain, based thereon, a plurality of target values and/or measurement tolerances.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein a spectrum analysis comprising an applying of a plurality of frequencies for voltage and/or current to at least one measurement position is carried out in a learning method, wherein the measuring, acquiring, calculating, and/or defining is carried out continuously in order to determine a plurality of target values and/or measurement tolerances that are used to create an initial envelope curve. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the learning method is continued for a readjustment period, after an initial startup, during operation of the circuit in order to take into account a change occurring over time in target values and/or measurement tolerances during measuring, and, based thereon, to adjust the target values, the measurement tolerances, and/or an initial envelope curve in order to obtain updated target values, updated measurement tolerances, and/or an updated envelope curve. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the learning method is continued during operation of the circuit after an initial startup, via which updated target values, updated measurement tolerances, and/or an updated envelope curve are ascertained continuously, and wherein this takes place based on at least one of the following criteria:
 reception of at least one updated target value, updated measurement tolerance, and/or updated envelope curve through a data connection; or   definition of an updated target value, updated measurement tolerance, and/or updated envelope curve based on the reception and/or via a user input.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the determining of a deviation comprises:
 calculating a difference between at least one actual value and a target value and/or updated target value; and   comparing between the initial envelope curve or updated envelope curve and a latest envelope curve,   wherein the difference is calculated between the initial envelope curve or updated envelope curve and the latest envelope curve.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the analysis ascertains whether a deviation lies within the measurement tolerance and/or updated measurement tolerance and is permissible or is impermissible, and/or wherein the analysis based on the deviation includes a determination of the cause of the deviation, and/or wherein the output of the analysis result to a user takes place, wherein the analysis result includes a summary of the analysis, a classification of the analysis, and/or a recommended action. 
     
     
         11 . A computing unit comprising a processor for carrying out the method according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . A measuring device to measure a control of a circuit, wherein the measuring device is configured to carry out an essentially synchronous measurement of the at least one parameter and to implement the method according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . A computer program product comprising instructions that are adapted to be executed by a computing unit and, upon execution of the program by a computing unit, cause the computing unit to implement the method according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         14 . A nonvolatile, computer-readable storage medium comprising a computer program product according to  claim 13 . 
     
     
         15 . A vehicle comprising at least one nonvolatile, computer-readable storage medium according to  claim 14 .